A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, McLaughlin starred at Creston High School. A 6'0" scoring point guard, he scored 1557 points in his high school career and led the Polar Bears to the state quarterfinals as a sophomore. For his junior and senior seasons, he averaged 33 points per game.[1] In 2016, the Grand Rapids-based media company Mlive named McLaughlin the greatest high school player in the city's history.[2]
McLaughlin then moved to Central Michigan to play for coach Dick Parfitt. He entered the starting lineup in his freshman year, averaging 12.4 points. In his sophomore season he became one of the top guards in the Mid-American Conference, averaging 20.8 points per game and earning a berth on the All-MAC first team. He followed this by repeating as first-team all-conference and was named the MAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring.[3] In his senior season, McLaughlin again increased his scoring average and led the MAC, but dropped to second-team All-MAC. Following the close of his college career, McLaughlin was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the sixth round (119th pick overall) of the 1983 NBA draft, but did not play in the National Basketball Association. He played for the Detroit Spirits of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).[4] He also played with Magic Johnson's barnstorming team, the All-Stars.[2]
McLaughlin left CMU as the school's all-time leader in points (2,071, 20.3 per game) and steals (196, since surpassed). In 1993 he was inducted into the Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame and in 2005 was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame. His number 14 is one of six retired by CMU basketball.[5] The book, Sweet Shot: The Basketball Life and Legacy of Melvin "Sugar" McLaughlin was published in March, 2021.[6]
References
^"Six-foot Melvin McLaughlin is big man on CMU campus". Detroit Free Press. February 18, 1983. p. 41. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abKaminski, Steve (February 23, 2016). "All-time greats: Melvin 'Sugar' McLaughlin is Grand Rapids' best player ever". Mlive. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
^"BSU's Yoder named MAC Coach of the Year". The Star Press. March 18, 1982. p. 17. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball record book" (PDF). Central Michigan Chippewas. p. 1–14. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
^Sweet Shot: The Basketball Life and Legacy of Melvin "Sugar" McLaughlin; Wendt Jr., Vernon E.; Twig All-American, Inc. 2021)
External links
College stats @ sports-reference.com
May 05, 2023
mclaughlin, basketball, melvin, sugar, mclaughlin, born, july, 1960, american, former, basketball, player, played, college, basketball, central, michigan, university, where, became, school, leading, scorer, 1981, american, conference, player, year, mclaughlinp. Melvin Sugar McLaughlin born July 31 1960 is an American former basketball player He played college basketball for Central Michigan University where he became the school s leading scorer and was the 1981 82 Mid American Conference Player of the Year Mel McLaughlinPersonal informationBorn 1960 07 31 July 31 1960 age 62 Grand Rapids MichiganNationalityAmericanListed height6 ft 0 in 1 83 m Listed weight160 lb 73 kg Career informationHigh schoolCreston Grand Rapids Michigan CollegeCentral Michigan 1979 1983 NBA draft1983 Round 6 Pick 119th overallSelected by the Cleveland CavaliersPositionPoint guardCareer history1983 1984Detroit SpiritsCareer highlights and awardsMAC Player of the Year 1982 2 First team All MAC 1981 1982 Second team All MAC 1983 No 14 retired by Central Michigan ChippewasA native of Grand Rapids Michigan McLaughlin starred at Creston High School A 6 0 scoring point guard he scored 1557 points in his high school career and led the Polar Bears to the state quarterfinals as a sophomore For his junior and senior seasons he averaged 33 points per game 1 In 2016 the Grand Rapids based media company Mlive named McLaughlin the greatest high school player in the city s history 2 McLaughlin then moved to Central Michigan to play for coach Dick Parfitt He entered the starting lineup in his freshman year averaging 12 4 points In his sophomore season he became one of the top guards in the Mid American Conference averaging 20 8 points per game and earning a berth on the All MAC first team He followed this by repeating as first team all conference and was named the MAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring 3 In his senior season McLaughlin again increased his scoring average and led the MAC but dropped to second team All MAC Following the close of his college career McLaughlin was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the sixth round 119th pick overall of the 1983 NBA draft but did not play in the National Basketball Association He played for the Detroit Spirits of the Continental Basketball Association CBA 4 He also played with Magic Johnson s barnstorming team the All Stars 2 McLaughlin left CMU as the school s all time leader in points 2 071 20 3 per game and steals 196 since surpassed In 1993 he was inducted into the Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame and in 2005 was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame His number 14 is one of six retired by CMU basketball 5 The book Sweet Shot The Basketball Life and Legacy of Melvin Sugar McLaughlin was published in March 2021 6 References Edit Six foot Melvin McLaughlin is big man on CMU campus Detroit Free Press February 18 1983 p 41 Retrieved October 28 2021 via Newspapers com a b Kaminski Steve February 23 2016 All time greats Melvin Sugar McLaughlin is Grand Rapids best player ever Mlive Retrieved October 28 2021 BSU s Yoder named MAC Coach of the Year The Star Press March 18 1982 p 17 Retrieved October 28 2021 via Newspapers com Spirits sign Sugar McLaughlin Detroit Free Press October 27 1983 p 50 Retrieved October 28 2021 via Newspapers com Central Michigan Chippewas men s basketball record book PDF Central Michigan Chippewas p 1 14 Retrieved October 28 2021 Sweet Shot The Basketball Life and Legacy of Melvin Sugar McLaughlin Wendt Jr Vernon E Twig All American Inc 2021 External links EditCollege stats sports reference com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mel McLaughlin basketball amp oldid 1060728565, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
